Chinese New Year

Dragon dances， acrobats， fireworks， a parade... London is buzzing with excitement at Chinese New Year. Find out more about how people in London celebrate.

The event

For Londons Chinese community， Chinese New Year is a huge event. Before Chinese New Year， people make sure their houses are clean and tidy， buy new clothes and have their hair cut， to bring good luck for the new year. London has the biggest celebrations outside of Asia. Hundreds of thousands of people go to watch the parade， which includes Chinese acrobats and traditional lion and dragon dances. The exact date of Chinese New Year is calculated according to lunar and solar calendars， so it changes every year.

The celebrations

In central London there are fireworks and stage performances with all kinds of acts and special guests. Previous celebrations have included fashion shows and Chinese hip hop acts， as well as more traditional performances with Chinese acrobats. The streets in Chinatown are decorated with lucky red lanterns and full of craft and food stalls. Listen out for people saying ‘Kung Hei Fat Choi to wish each other prosperity， or saying ‘San Nin Faai Lok—Happy New Year！

Chinese people in Britain

Young UK-based， Chinese people missing home might cook traditional Chinese dumplings for friends in Britain or organise an evening of karaoke. The festivities are not as noisy as back home， where loud firecrackers were traditionally used to frighten away a terrible monster called the Nian， and the special red envelopes of money from relatives may have further to travel to the UK. But there is still plenty of excitement， happiness and good feeling， as people come together to enjoy the celebrations.

Activity 1—True or false

Are the sentences true or false？

1. Chinese New Year is a big celebration in London.

2. Improving your appearance and tidying your house are part of the preparations.

3. Chinese New Year is always on 31 January.

4. All of the Chinese New Year entertainment on offer in London is traditional.

5. You can buy Chinese food in the streets of Chinatown.

6. Young Chinese people in the UK wont receive red envelopes of money from their relatives.

Activity 2—Fill it in！

exact      monster      lunar      fashion      huge      red      food and craft

Read the article again. Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

1. Chinese New Year is a ______ event in London—the biggest celebrations outside of Asia.

2. The date changes every year， and is calculated according to the ______ calendar.

3. When is the ______ date this year？

4. The streets are decorated with ______ lanterns.

5. In past years in London there have been hip hop acts and even ______ shows.

6. In Chinatown the streets are full of ______ stalls.

7. Loud firecrackers are used to frighten away a terrible ______ called the Nian.

Write about it！

How do you celebrate New Year where you live？ Write about it below.